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Fitness Goals for 2019

January 20, 2019 by Vicky Leave a Comment

As we hit the end of January 2019 I have been reflecting on my fitness goals for 2019. I think it is really important to reassess your goals when you are on a “fitness journey” as it keeps you motivated and on track.

2018 was a big year for me health and fitness wise. I started working with Felicity Neale in April, initially focusing on diet but progressing to my exercise regime as well and I saw massive changes in my health and fitness.

Towards the end of 2018 our focus moved to building strength and saw the introduction of more regular weight lifting days which I have to admit I was surprised about, but I loved. Previously to that I had focused on cardio quite a lot and was a bit afraid to branch out into the weights section on my own.

This year I really want to keep focusing on strength and weight lifting because I really see the benefits of strength training and it has so much more of an impact on the development of my body and I love the way my muscles are developing.

I am also working towards having surgery to remove the excess skin I have on my stomach, back, arms and legs this year. I haven’t really talked about this much on the blog but it is a big focus. When I started working out I always insisted I would never have the surgery but I am now at the stage where I can see that the excess skin I have is not going to shrink much at all and I don’t want to live with it for the rest of my life when I can do something about it (I know plenty of people do happily).

I am sussing out the costs and timeframe for having the surgery but it is high on my agenda.

Before the surgery I want to get to my strongest so that this will help with my recovery after the surgery. Felicity and I feel like I need to get my arms and legs as strong as possible because frankly it is going to really hurt if I try using my core to move myself around post surgery.

I also want to keep participating in the various running and walking events which are being held around the Brisbane / Gold Coast / Sunshine Coast areas. I am still not really a runner and half heartedly give running a go from time to time, but the events I want to do are usually still welcoming to walkers and so definitely inclusive for me. I am lucky that Naomi and the Aussie indulge me on this aim and will come along for the ride!

I have been a bit hit and miss with Park Run the last few months. This is mainly because I am just not someone who can walk / run in the heat and its been pretty hot even at 7am in the morning. The Aussie and I did a Park Run in the UK (and I got a PB knocking 3 minutes off my time) and this takes me up to 23 Park Runs so far. When you have completed 50 Park Runs you receive a 50 shirt and I am quite focused on completing the 50 this year!

Finally I want to get braver! The Aussie and I did a couple of walks in the UK and I was terrified of falling over. Now after 30 odd years of tripping over I know what it feels like to fall over and I am lucky that this seems to have reduced considerably with my weight loss (touch wood). I am also always worried that if I injure myself I won’t be able to work out and I really don’t like the risk.

I will admit that on one of our walks I was like a baby deer taking tiny steps because it was muddy, hilly and there were lots of rocks to slip on. I want to get over this because I really enjoy hiking and walking.

I think I need to buy some walking poles because from talking to various people this has helped them enormously with building confidence on this kind of walk. Then when it cools down a bit in Autumn and Winter I hope that the Aussie and I can get out there and start building my confidence!

My 5 Goals for November

October 29, 2017 by Vicky Leave a Comment

My 5 goals for November are:

1) Again my primary aim for November is to loose weight, so my aim is to loose at least 1kg.

2) To continue to keep all of my plants alive so we can enjoy some home grown tomatoes whenever they appear!

3) Go to Park Run events at least each alternate weekend and improve my current time of 58:01.

4) To edit my photos so they are all up to date and complete the restoration of the blue dresser!

5) We are going to Darwin and then Bali at the end of the month with some of our friends and I aim to be healthy and active whilst still having a great holiday.

October 2017 Goals Update

1) Loosing weight – I set myself the aim to loose 1kg in October and I lost 1.5g in total so pretty happy with that.

2) To keep my tomato plants alive – The poor tomatoes succumbed to another probable possum attack. I also bought some parsley which was also eaten by the possum so the Aussie and I bought some netting to stop future attacks and the plants seem to be doing well again.

3) To complete the Heart Foundation Marathon – I set myself the target one walking one marathon but completed that earlier than I expected so I doubled and then tripled the target walking 126 kilometres. I haven’t quite finished but anticipate I will exceed the target I also aimed to raise $200 and managed to raise $120 so far.

4) To edit my photos from Darwin – Unfortunately not completed yet which is why they are on my ist for November.

5) To complete the restoration of the blue dresser – Again this has not been completed, October has been a hectic month with lots of working towards fitness goals.

Blue Dresser

End of the 101 Things in 1001 Days Challenge

September 28, 2017 by Vicky Leave a Comment

Today is the last day of my 101 Things in 1001 Days challenge which I began on 1 January 2015 which seems like forever ago now. Here is the original post.

Below is how “well” I did! Did anyone else give this a try? How are you doing?

1. Qualify as a Solicitor in Australia – Completed 13 December 2016
2. Sell one of my photographs Completed I have sold 2 different photos on Redbubble
3. Visit Bali Completed March 2017.
4. Learn to sail Still on the bucket list
5. Start studying the subjects need to qualify as a Solicitor in Australia and pass them all – Started and completed
6. Get over my fear of public speaking – not over it but I am getting there and am planning to do some public speaking courses.
7. To still be blogging on 28 September 2017 Long hiatus but I am here now
8. Visit Kakadu National Park – completed Easter 2015
9. Keep using the planner that I bought so that I can plan my life out better, not forget things and do all the things that I want to do Tried and failed, diaries and planners are not my thing.
10. Plan out my blog posts better so that I can run a bit more to a schedule Working on it
11. Become better at using social media like Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram Using Instagram regularly
12. See more of Australia – I want to visit at least Perth, Adelaide and Sydney – Working on it
13. Buy a car Not required at the moment and have better uses of money planned
14. Learn how to style my curly hair nicely Had my hair chemically straightened in August 2017 so not required
15. Invite friends over for dinner often Ongoing
16. Get my visa sorted so I do not have to worry about visa’s expiring or deadlines – fingers crossed any day now.
17. Pay of my debts in the UK Work in progress
18. Save money! There’s so many things I want to do but I need to get saving first Saved for our move to Brisbane and currently saving for our holiday to Bali in November
19. Cook 101 recipes from the recipe books I own and have been given Work in progress
20. Learn and understand the rules of AFL A bit of an optimistic plan I think
21. Take my DSLR camera out with me more and actually use it so I don’t miss the photo opportunities – getting better at this and regularly getting out and about for photos.
22. Complete the challenges I set myself via blog, photography etc Work in progress
23. Take more time to keep in contact with people to make sure that the distance between us doesn’t seem so big Ongoing
24. Reply to emails, texts, calls and what’s app messages within 24 hours at the very most Managing this most of the time
25. Wear sunscreen all the time Yes!
26. Walk more and enjoy it YES! Big change in mindset I will talk about at some point
27. Get better at saying what’s on mind rather than bottling it up Ongoing
28. Learn to enjoy red wine I’m not really drinking alcohol very much at the moment so not required
29. Spend Christmas in the UK with my family and friends – Completed Christmas 2015 and 2016 and it was great.
30. Visit the penguins on Phillip Island Still on the bucket list but have lots of things planned, plus we need to explore Queensland
31. Send a letter, card, postcard to someone as a surprise each month Not overly successful
32. Visit the turtles Was on the Northern Territory bucket list but we ran out of time
33. Get up early and take a photo of the sunrise Completed in Bali in March 2017 when we had a 3.30am start for the sunrise
34. Take a good photo of lightening Still on the bucket list
35. Read 5 classic books I’ve never read before Still on the bucket list
36. Redesign my blog Still on the bucket list
37. Personalise our home with photos, pictures and things that are important to us – Completed but ongoing as I find things
38. Get my mum to teach me to knit (again) and remember how to do it.
39. Go to the ballet Still on the bucket list and more achievable in Brisbane
40. Attend 3 music concerts Still on the bucket list and more achievable in Brisbane
41. Have the root canal work done/tooth removed in 2015 and again in 2016 – me teeth are terrible completed and it was terrible!
42. Complete the Goodreads reading challenge each year and increase the number of book that are too be read each year Still on the bucket list maybe 2018 will be the year
43. Have an allergy test done My Doctor in Darwin referred me but I never received an appointment. I will look into this in Brisbane
44. Print and frame my own photos in our home – completed.
45. Watch Les Miserable in the theatre and read the book Still on the bucket list
46. Learn how to make macaroons from scratch Still on the bucket list
47. Visit Thailand with the Aussie Still on the bucket list
48. Re-learn how to play the keyboard properly Still on the bucket list and I am looking for lessons
49. Practice playing the keyboard at least twice a week Still on the bucket list
50. Buy a beautiful coffee table and bookcase(s) for our home – Completed, I had to purchase nearly all the furniture and accessories for our house in Brisbane so got everything I wanted
51. Study for at least 10 hours a week when courses start in March 2015 – I didn’t study that much but it’s done and I am now a qualified Solicitor in England and Wales and Australia
52. Dye my hair regularly so the roots don’t show – completed and ongoing.
53. Get hair cut at least 5 times a year and take better care of it Completed now I have found a hairdresser I like who doesn’t charge a fortune in Brisbane
54. Take a book out of the library once a month and read it all Still on the bucket list and planning on joining the local library ASAP
55. Buy a bike and use it often I was given a bike by my lovely friend Naomi. Not using it often at the moment but getting fit enough to do so
56. Go out dancing more Still on the bucket list
57. Hang the washing out when it’s finished not leave it so long it has to be washed again – work in progress.
58. Open a joint bank account with the Aussie – we’ve been meaning to do this since August 2013 – opened but we are terrible at getting our acts in gear to use it!
59. Write a will Still on the bucket list and as I write other people’s Wills at work I really should sort my own out!
60. Change my Super Account and move my existing super to it – completed! Industry Super all the way!
61. Take a helicopter ride over Darwin This was on the bucket list but we didn’t manage it before leaving Darwin, Brisbane maybe!
62. Go on at least one “girls” weekend a year Gold Coast with Naomi May 2017
63. Read a book in a day Still on the bucket list maybe in Bali in November
64. Spend the day at the cinema watching as many films as I can cram in Still on the bucket list but have people who can achieve this with as the Aussie is not so keen on the movies as I am
65. Take a day off work in the middle of the week to just stay in bed reading, watching movies and sleeping Completed
66. Make someone a mix tape of my favourite songs Completed for Naomi’s birthday party
67. No eating out for a month This is one of those nearly impossible ones! We really enjoy the social aspect of going out for dinner
68. Drink 6 glasses of water a day for 2 weeks – I really should do this already but I am terrible at drinking water – completed. I manage this almost every day now.
69. Take a picture for every letter of the alphabet Still on the bucket list
70. Start and complete a project 365 photo challenge Still on the bucket list maybe 2018’s challenge
71. See 10 classic movies I’ve never seen before Still on the bucket list
72. Ask 20 friends to recommend a book each and read them all Still on the bucket list
73. Go on a completely unplanned road trip Completed Anzac Day with Naomi, we planned to go to Mary River and ended up in Kakadu
74. Get a pedicure – completed March 2016 and it was amazing!
75. Watch the sunrise and sunset in one day Completed Bali March 2017
76. Volunteer – I was President of a local Camera Club for a year and a half but am looking at volunteering at a free legal serviceso I think this counts.
77. Plant a balcony herb and flower garden – I just planted some tomato plants and hoping they survive my care
78. Blog at least 3 times a week Adjusted so my aim is now once a week
79. Read 10 non fiction books Still on the bucket list – I’ve read 2 and am part way through a third
80. Learn to make pasta from scratch Still on the bucket list
81. Send a card or flowers to someone going through a hard time – completed, sent flowers to my Mum when she wasn’t feeling well but this is an ongoing work in progress.
82. Climb the Eiffel Tower Still on the long term bucket list
83. Do a Yellow Water Cruise – completed Easter 2015
84. Get a tattoo – not completed but I have selected a design I would like if I did decide to get one.
85. Donate blood at least once My fear of needles remains strong, not sure I’ll achieve this one
86. Host a wine and cheese party I am not really drinking alcohol so I’m not sure I will achieve this one in the short term
87. Send 20 postcards through Postcrossing Still on the bucket list
88. Hide a note in a library book Still on the bucket list
89. Set up sponsorship on my blog Still on the bucket list
90. Create a guest post idea and have someone write a guest post each month Still on the bucket list – if I can commit to the blog regularly I will look at this
91. Visit 10 museums – Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Wentworth Castle (post to follow)
92. Have a picnic with the Aussie Completed at Mount Tambourine August 2017
93. Write and send Christmas cards preferably with personalised cards Completed December 2017
94. Donate $10 to a charity every month $25 a month for the Red Cross, also raised money for the RSPCA when I did the Million Paws Walk
95. Have professional photos taken with my family On the cards for July 2018 when they visit
96. Visit and comment on 10 blogs every week Still on the bucket list
97. Take home made lunch to work for one week every month – completed four out of five days a week at least.
98. Organise photos on computer, phone, hard drive Completed
99. Buy a film camera and use it I was given a Box Brownie but its not in working order, something to aim for I think
100. Go on a photography tour Bali with Darwin Camera Club March 2017
101. Put $10 into savings for each goal accomplished On average $50 a week for Bali

Blogging Goals for 2015

January 17, 2015 by Vicky 2 Comments

Blogging Goals for 2015

I recently joined the Blogging Elite group on Facebook and every month we will be participating in a link up. This months link up is about our blogging goals for 2015 and so below are my goals!

1) To still be blogging at the end of 2015 – this is going to be tricky with working full time and studying so number 2 will hopefully help with that….

2) To create (done) and follow a blogging schedule to make sure I can keep on top of blogging this year.

3) To post at least 3 times a week.

4) To improve my pictures that I post on the blog.

5) To better use social media including learning how and why we should use Pinterest and Stumbleupon!

6) To become a better part of the blogging community by visiting other bloggers blogs, interacting with them and commenting so I can get to know my fellow bloggers better.

I think 6 is enough to be getting on with, especially as I started my 101 Goals in 1001 Days on the 1st January this year!!

To see what the other fantastic bloggers in the Blogging Elite’s goals are this year check out the link below!

Blog Goals for 2015

About Me!

My name is Vicky and I am a Lawyer from the UK who upped sticks and moved to the Northern Territory in Australia in August 2013!

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